Create ShopBot Tool Paths in Fusion 360 for Plywood

[@mrmasquelier]

What would be the best way to add a cut that isn't on or along a part? Basically, can I add a line in space and add a cut along that line to manage the shapes of the drops I'm generating? For example, if I'm cutting 1 part out of a 48"x96" piece. Say the part is 43"x65". That leaves an L shaped drop. I would prefer to have 2 drops (31"x48" and 5"x65", less loss from bit diameter). What would be the easiest way to accomplish this in Fusion? I'm coming from a 2D system and I know how to manually add a line via text in the Gcode, but not in Fusion. Thanks for the videos, they're very helpful!

[@WhatMakeArt]

You can draw additional sketches and use the sketches as cut lines in the manufacturer workspace, you can tell it to cut on the left or the right of the line

[@wolframherzog636]

Very useful explanation - helped me a lot for ,my XMAS CNC project. But one question remains: How do you add some clearance to the CNC cut parts? I have learned that the exact numbers result in real world components which are almost impossible to join. I would like a "softer" fit to make the glue up less painful. Any hints how to solve this problem?

[@WhatMakeArt]

Soft plywood pieces normally can be forced together, sometimes need a bit of sanding You can do a test cut at exact size to see if it will fit or not, then you can decide which part will be made smaller and then you can add a parameter with a variable for your clearance. Clearance. You can either cut it out of both pieces or just the piece with the negative space.

[@alpsalish]

Wolfram, you are actually correct. Fitting tolerances are important. Frequently, with boats kits puzzle joints had a fitting tolerance of around .02". With prefinished ply for commercial stand applications and tables it was closer to a few thousandths of an inch. Those tolerances were tight because the cut product was the final show product. Boat kits need to fit well and relatively tight, but the ply only acts as a core material and will generally see a bunch of post work. Test cuts are always important though. Every time a new thing was cut (product/project) a test pocket or joint was also included in the sheet before cutting resumed. Fusion is awfully clunky in the machining environment and a lot of other software usually costing more will allow you to include offsets on paths for pockets and profiles outside of a modeling environment.

[@alpsalish]

Radial stock to leave on pockets with a negative value may help open up the pocket, but from the video I am not exactly sure.

[@Allie.Kushnir]

Where can I find the link to the video you referenced on setting up the tool?

[@WhatMakeArt]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/g2qwgq2Pp7GbfbM Here is a link to the video showing how to set up a CNC router bit for Fusion 360

[@alexperez5757]

Very useful video. One question After I set the toolpath and go to simulate. The simulate starts from the end point instead of the beginning point. Do you know why?

[@WhatMakeArt]

It might be the direction of the cut. You can either do left climb milling or right climb milling, you can also click on the arrow on your contour to make it inside or outside and the machine will potentially change direction

[@alexperez5757]

@@WhatMakeArt I had tried that but nothing. I forgot to mention that the bit goes all the way through the playwood and starts it’s way doing the passes going up.

[@WhatMakeArt]

That is strange, are you sure you're using a profile cut? Is it a 3D cut? Probably something really simple, I would recommend a new cam setup from the beginning to see if there's something you might have accidentally clicked

[@alexperez5757]

@@WhatMakeArt I do just exactly like you did in your video. One thing I noticed is when I go to geometry and select the top edge the simulate begins at the start pint, but only one pass. I am wondering if it has to do with the highs.

[@WhatMakeArt]

Likely something to do with the heights, I usually pick the lower most part of the geometry on a profile cut It's frustrating when something doesn't work, but I'm sure you'll figure it out

[@MrDenisJoshua]

Nice video A question... how do I set the speed of simulation into a real speed please ? I just want to see the real cutting speed in the simulation. Thank a lot

[@WhatMakeArt]

There is a slider below that you can adjust the speed of the simulation. There are too many variables to make it be the actual speed that your machine will cut. Even the machine time estimate that fusion does is not accurate because of the different machines.

[@MrDenisJoshua]

@@WhatMakeArt ... and also the start of Tool (under simulation) is non start from the "Box Point" I just looking for some other software just for using is for the simulation Something that take in INPUT the gCode generated by Fusion 360. Thanks a lot again

[@WhatMakeArt]

Ah, I see yeah I'm not sure what software would be best for estimating times from g code. I ran some files on the machine I use to calibrate the estimates from fusion and actual cut times. It's always just an estimate until you actually cut the part

[@bartoszwolak476]

Tks! You helped me :)

[@WhatMakeArt]

👍

[@franmo662]

Just like I like, thanks

[@WhatMakeArt]

👍